DVD releases: Eraserhead / Killer Of Sheep

Friday 17 October 2008 19.01 EDT
First published on Friday 17 October 2008 19.01 EDT

Eraserhead, The Short Films Of David Lynch

Two excellent DVDs, both originally available only directly from Lynch's website and compiled under the director's careful eye, to remind us what an original voice he has always possessed. His beautiful nightmare Eraserhead took around six cash-strapped years to complete. The making of it is detailed here in a lengthy and, considering the darkness of the film, surprisingly light-hearted and affectionate documentary. Lynch trawled his own archives for it, pulling out plenty of never-before-seen material, even video footage of him directing it - who knew that even existed? The film looks and sounds amazing, with a palpable handmade feel that more money and less time would have compromised. Lynch's only requirement for prospective crew and cast members was that they be "good sports", so it's astounding he managed to rope in so many who were not only willing to work so hard but also had the talent to push things forward in their fields - cinematographer Frederick Elmes and sound designer Alan Splet deserve much credit, as does actor Jack Nance who bravely wore the electric-shock haircut for most of the lengthy production. Equally brilliant are Lynch's six short films, the first of which, Six Men Getting Sick, saw the 1966 art student tackling film for the very first time to create a moving painting, an ethos that has stuck with him over the years. Longer pieces The Alphabet and The Grandmother point towards what would become Eraserhead, containing images and sounds that he'd return to many times.

Killer Of Sheep

£15.99, BFI

For most of the past three decades, this film has been more talked about than actually seen. Not due to any controversial content, rather the fact that director Charles Burnett felt the music he selected for his $10,000 film school graduation piece was integral to the mood and plot. The 30-year wait for Burnett to raise the $150,000 for music clearance was time and money well spent. Burnett takes an unromantic view of the lives of poor African-American family in LA. The main character, Stan, works a grim and repetitive job at the slaughterhouse, he's too tired to pay his wife full attention and his kids run wild in the decaying neighbourhood. It's a highly atmospheric film, with a freeform approach to plot but beautifully shot. A later Burnett feature, My Brother's Wedding, is also out (£17.99, BFI). More polished than Sheep but still well worth a look.